"How could it be worth it? How could fine jade withstand collision with rubble?" Xu Yun said angrily. "You must never act so recklessly again in the future!"
Chen Hongzhu said calmly, "Father, Senior Brother, and all elders, I have already made my vow and dedicated myself to the Dao. You need not worry that I would favor outsiders, right?"
The members of the Huawel Sect lowered their heads.
When Chen Hongzhu had previously released the outer sect disciples, she claimed it wasn't for Song Qianji's sake, but for the sect's.
No one believed her, and she was confined in the Discipline Hall for reflection.
Bringing up this old matter now inevitably created an awkward atmosphere.
Everyone thought to themselves, it's as if we forced Chen Hongzhu to disrupt the wedding banquet and make that severe vow.
"Why bring this up now?" a Peak Lord tried to smooth things over. "Let's go out first and allow the Sect Leader to tend to Hongzhu's injuries."
"Just minor injuries." Chen Hongzhu stopped them. "For the next recruitment of outer sect disciples, I'll go down the mountain to select them, and they'll be under my management. Is that acceptable?"
"I'm afraid that goes against the rules." Zhao Taiji glanced meaningfully at Xu Yun.
Chen Hongzhu said to Xu Yun, "Father, the sect's reputation has been damaged, which will inevitably affect disciple recruitment. Your daughter is willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility!"
Her tone was firm, and everyone in the hall happened to be feeling guilty at that moment.
Xu Yun finally nodded: "Very well, you may try it once."
Chen Hongzhu then pointed out the elders in charge of the Spirit Stone Mine, Library Pavilion, and Teaching Hall, debating with each of them and securing many concessions.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the Peak Lords and elders quickly made excuses to take their leave.
Before long, only three people remained in the main hall.
Xu Yun went to retrieve his treasured elixirs to replenish Chen Hongzhu's qi and blood.
Yuan Qingshi looked at his junior sister's pale face, hesitating to speak.
"Senior Brother, is there something you want to say?" Chen Hongzhu asked.
"I want to say something you might not want to hear. Even though you've sworn your dedication to the Dao and everyone believes you have no ulterior motives..." Yuan Qingshi sighed, feeling the cruelty of reality. "If you want to implement reforms within the sect, you'll still face numerous difficulties. Today was an exception. In the future, whenever you approach them, they'll all avoid you."
Chen Hongzhu smiled. "Senior Brother speaks the truth. Why wouldn't I want to hear that?"
"As long as you understand, I'm truly worried for you." Yuan Qingshi was about to say more when his eyes suddenly lit up: "Fairy Miaoyan!"
Chen Hongzhu turned to see a maid supporting Miaoyan as she slowly emerged from the rear hall.
"Is the Fairy leaving already? Please rest a while longer." Yuan Qingshi said, feeling somewhat ashamed that Miaoyan had been invited here only to return injured.
"I won't disturb any further." Miaoyan smiled. "Please convey my farewells to True Person Xuyun."
The curve of her smile remained the same as always, but her eyes held a barely concealed melancholy.
Chen Hongzhu looked at Miaoyan, her expression gradually becoming one of pity.
In that moment, she realized she no longer disliked the other woman.
Although they were cousins, their clothing, manner, and temperaments were worlds apart.
But today, both were wearing ceremonial dresses, both had pale complexions, and from a certain angle of their profiles, one could vaguely see their facial resemblance.
Yuan Qingshi stared blankly, watching Miaoyan's retreating figure.
"Still looking?" Chen Hongzhu teased him. "Why not catch up and see her off?"
"No." Yuan Qingshi frowned. "Why do I feel that Fairy Miaoyan isn't as beautiful as before? It's not that her appearance has changed, but that feeling... ah, I can't quite explain it. Before, she was like a celestial maiden from the highest heavens, radiating divine light. But now..."
Now she was still a great beauty, but had lost that moon-surrounded-by-stars brilliance.
It seemed that in terms of pure appearance, Fairy Qingqing wouldn't lose to her either.Yuan Qingshi shook his head vigorously, dismissing such thoughts.
...
"It was clearly the Huawel Sect who invited the fairy here, yet it ended like this." They..." The maid's resentful words were cut short by Miaoyan.
"I agreed to come of my own accord. I can't blame others." Miaoyan said calmly, "There will always be someone better. Among the younger generation, I am not the best, so I should take this as motivation to work harder with shame.The maid Piner studied her expression and cautiously asked, "Has the fairy identified the composer?""
Miaoyan paused briefly, then quickly shook her head as if convincing herself: "It's not him."
"That's right!Piner said, "The fairy loves this piece so much. If the composer were truly alive, they would surely be your soulmate."
At the Grand Audience Assembly, Qin Xian left the comment "merits lasting through ages, heroes at road's end," saying this was music written by someone dead.
Therefore, most people believed the composer must have experienced great vicissitudes of life, with dramatic rises and falls - something young cultivators couldn't compose with such depth.
Only Miaoyan persisted in her search.
Miaoyan had long known that not everyone in the world liked her.
But she had an inexplicable intuition that at least Song Qianji shouldn't treat her this way.
The first time they met on Fleeting Water Bridge, Song Qianji had looked right through her.
The second time, at the flower appreciation gathering, she had offered him a flower as a friendly gesture, only to be rejected.
The third time was today. The decisive, forceful music and his merciless words.
Song Qianji got along well with many young women.
Some were youthful and adorable, some bright and spirited, others like He Qingqing with her sharp demeanor, or Chen Hongzhu with her willful pride.
To be precise, Song Qianji had a good temper with people regardless of gender or sect.
But toward her, he showed inexplicable coldness. He looked at lotus flowers in the water with more warmth than he ever showed her.
The maid worriedly said, "When we return to the Celestial Sound Sect, the fairy should go into seclusion.""
"Why?" Miaoyan asked.
The maid thought the reason was obvious.
Having lost this battle at Cosmos Palace, besides facing Wangshu's fury, there would be no shortage of outside gossip.
"I'm afraid the fairy will suffer grievances.""
Miaoyan laughed at this: "I grew up on Huawel Mountain. Even if I got lost in the back mountains during snowfall, no one would come looking for me. After all, Huawel Mountain is so vast, with so many talented disciples - what does it matter if one idle eater goes missing..."
The maid stared at her in astonishment.
Miaoyan never spoke of such things. She never mentioned her "less glorious" past.
Now, whether speaking to the maid or to herself:
"I won't be defeated. Having controversy is better than being ignored."
...
On the path down the mountain, white snow blanketed the ground while flowers lined the road.
Along the mountain path, peach blossoms, pear blossoms, and apricot blossoms bloomed in succession, cluster upon cluster like pink smoke and red mist.
He Qingqing and Song Qianji walked side by side at the rear.
Meng Heze had been leading the group ahead, but for some reason had started arguing with Lin Feiyuan again, forming snowballs to throw at each other.
Ji Chen and the Thousand Canals disciples were busy trying to stop the fight, but eventually joined the fray themselves.
The youths chased and fought, quarreling and making noise as they ran ahead, kicking up sparkling snowflakes and drifting petals along the way.
He Qingqing looked at Song Qianji: "Aren't you going to stop them?"
Song Qianji smiled helplessly: "Stop what? They argue ten times a day, then make up immediately. If Little Wei were here, it would be even worse."
"Who's Little Wei?"
"Oh, my newly hired steward. He cooks very well.""Those around you, I no longer recognize any of them." He Qingqing listened to the distant clamor, "The Celestial Sound Sect should not be like this."
The disciples of Thousand Canals were unrestrained, laughing and bantering merrily, while those of the Celestial Sound Sect remained aloof and refined, each composed and dignified.
"Will you still go back?" Song Qianji asked.
Suddenly, a north wind rose, carrying a chill within the fragrance of flowers.
White pear petals danced wildly in the air, like a blizzard reversing its course, flying from the ground back to the sky.
Flowers blooming in deep winter, snow swirling in the wind—time seemed to flow backward.
He Qingqing drifted back to spring, to the beginning of their acquaintance.
A spring breeze brushed her face, and sunlight shimmered on the water.
"When I was at Green Cliff, I envied female cultivators like Fairy Miaoyan—noble, beautiful, and beloved by all.
At Huawel Sect, I also envied young ladies like Chen Hongzhu, who were doted on by their families and sects, pursued by admirers, and could act spoiled and unreasonable without consequence.
After joining the Celestial Sound Sect, I admired my master. Her cultivation was profound, and her character even stronger—unafraid of gossip or solitude. Later, I stopped envying anyone. One can only walk their own path."
He Qingqing heard her own voice scatter in the wind:
"Senior Brother Song, I will go back. I will not retreat anymore. Whoever stands in my way, I will deal with them. If even heaven and earth try to stop me, I will reshape them."
Song Qianji did not say it was wrong or that she should not do so, but only remarked, "That path will inevitably be arduous."
The wind gradually stilled, petals falling to the ground, mingling into muddy snow.
He Qingqing said, "I was born with a fate full of hardships. If I do not stand atop the summit, I will fall into the abyss."
...
On the path down the mountain, the students of Green Cliff trailed distantly behind the Thousand Canals group.
Ziye Wenshu remained expressionless as ever.
The scholars maintained proper posture and elegant demeanor, yet behind Ziye Wenshu's back, they quietly transmitted messages:
"They seem to be talking. Isn't it improper for us to follow like this?"
"There's only one path down the mountain. We're not following—we're descending too! Look behind us—are those walking behind us following us as well?"
Zimo asked, "Then why don't we walk faster and overtake them?"
Qingzhai replied, "Because, because... it seems Courtyard Overseer has something to say to Song Xian Guan?"
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